2017-03-07
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing. With the recent announcement that the Gatwick Hotel is to be sold, the minister said that the government will work with St Kilda Community Housing and a network of agencies to relocate the current residents. The minister also called on the owners not to take on any new residents. The Gatwick has been able to accommodate up to 80 people, but this has been reducing over time. I am concerned that vulnerable people who until now would have found accommodation at the Gatwick will have nowhere to go. What will the minister do to ensure that not only those 80 beds that already exist at the Gatwick but an increased number of modern, fit-for-purpose crisis accommodation with funding for support services is provided as soon as possible in the Port Phillip area?
ANSWER on 2 May 2017:
The Gatwick has long passed its time as a place that housed vulnerable people in safe and appropriate circumstances.
This can be a very stressful and confusing time for residents and we want to ensure that is managed appropriately and that residents are treated with respect during this transition period.
The Government commissioned St Kilda Community Housing to help current residents move to safe and more stable housing over the coming months. This is expected to include rooming houses, public housing, other forms of social housing and some private rental assistance programs.
$2.7 billion of investment and support has been delivered to assist the most vulnerable in our community, create new permanent housing and provide the necessary help for people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
As part of this investment the Government recently announced an additional $20 million upgrade of rooming houses in Victoria. It will provide upgraded modern and safe accommodation rooming houses in a number of locations across the State, including in South Melbourne.
This builds on the previous $10 million announced in 2016, part of which has supported the redevelopment of the Elenara rooming house in St Kilda.